Prescription drug adverts are everywhere; from our television screens to celebrity promotions, the brand names of everything from anti-depressants to IBS medications have now become generic. Is this to the benefit of the consumer or to the pharmaceutical industry?
No, there should not be advertisements for prescription drugs
Prescription drug advertisements encourage people to distrust their physician's judgment and to self-diagnose and self-treat.
Prescription drugs advertisements discourage trust in physicians’ knowledge
The advertisement of prescription drugs encourages people to self-diagnose and to discourages patients from looking at physicians as a source of medical information.
Advertising prescription drugs in media trivializes their potential harm
If a medication with potentially deadly side effects is advertised in the same commercial break as a new candy, car insurance, or perhaps even children’s show, it implies that utilizing potentially harmful medications is as mundane and accessible as buying a six-pack at the store.
Yes, there should be advertisements for prescription drugs
The range of available medications in the world continues to grow exponentially and even doctors aren't able to keep up with all of them. DTC helps consumers understand their options
Advertisements provide a way for people to get informed about new treatments
Physicians aren’t aware of every single drug and treatment for every condition; prescription drug advertisements provide a way for patients to learn about new drugs and treatments and self-advocate to their care providers.
